Steam turbine gland diaphragm packing



muy 16, 1935. C, R SQDERBERG 2,@08520 STEAM TURBINE GLAND DIAPHRAGM PACKING Filed April 20, 1934 l "s lili F' 1G. Z., E

di z4- WITNEssEs;

INVENTOR C a m... E., SODERBERG.,

` BY 'fx/,@,MM

4 ATTORNEY Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATE-s 2,008,520. Y Y STEAM TURBINEk GLAND DIAPHRAGM PAC KING

Carl R. Soderberg, Swarthmore, Pa., assignorY-to Westinghouse; Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburg Pennsylvania,-

Application AprilV 20,

6 Claims.

My invention relates toV` steam turbinea. more particularly of the impulse type, and it has for an object to provide an improved type of interp stage packing for sealing the diaphragm with 5- respect to the spindle. y

Y The application of packings of the labyrinth type wherein the strips denne axial clearances between turbine rotor structure and stator structure, for example, a diaphragm', and wherein the Vaxial clearance is fixed by axial adjustment of the rotor, have not heretofore been practicable in impulse typeturbines because of the deflection of the diaphragm, due to the pressure diierence between one side and the other, interfering` with thisclearance. Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide packing of this character constructed and arranged to preserve suitable axial clearancesv even though deflectionV ofthe diaphragm may takeplace'.

rotor and radially overlapping the central annular'portion of the diaphragm, the central annularA may be `maintained in substantially constantr clearance relation regardless of variations of 35i pressure difference between one side and the other of the diaphragm.

The member carried byV the rotor comprises a flanged element, the inner circumference of which is secured in steam-tight vrelation to the rotor; The flange element includes an outery radial portion, with which the annular packing rings cooperate, and a webbedf portion, which may be curved, joining the radial portion and the rotor attachment portion to providethe desired degree of flexibility. The ilange is preferably formed to providea multiplicity of coaxial stepped lands and the central annular portion ofthe diaphragm is formed with corresponding lands,

50i an annular packing strip which cooperates with Ya flange land andY the flange lands each beingof substantial' radial widthV so that,v even though radial displacement may occui` between the ange and the diaphragmthe sealing clearance will be a maintained. The stepped formation of the sealing More particularly, I provide `diaphragm packing which is comprised by a member carried by the each landv of the diaphragm.- being provided with h, Pa.,l a. corporation of 1934, Serial No. 721,531

structure not only provides for a more effectiveV seal in that the passage through the labyrinthis' thereby made more .tortuous, but they stepped formation stiifens the flange .in all directions,

whereby deflection due to the pressure difference. occurs in the web, the webbeing constructed` and arranged so that movement of the' flange axially due to such deflection is substantially the same as` the axial movement of the central annular portion of the diaphragm Vincident to deflection operation.

A further object of my invention is tofprovide', diaphragm packing'wherein -the spindle is( pro."-` vided with a flange overlapping the central' por'"` tion of the diaphragm together with one or more. annular packing` rings carried by the ,centrali portion of the diaphragm and cooperating'with,v

the flange to define sealing clearance. n y

A further object of my invention is to provide,

turbine diaphragm packing wherein'the 'turbine spindle is provided with a flange which overlaps, the central portion of the diaphragm, the latter being constructed and' arranged to provide cor` responding stepped' annular lands with each dial*-` phragm land khaving, a. packingring cooperating with thecorresponding flange land to denne seal-` ing clearance.. Y. 1 1 y These. and other objectsY are effected` by my invention, as will be apparentfrom the following description and. claims, taken in accordance withT the accompanying drawing,V forming ja part ,of this application,in which: l

Fig. l is a sectional detail view of incorporatingA my invention ;l and, Y l

Fig.` 2, isa detail View of an alternative form.. Referring to the drawing more indetail, I show` a turbine .casing or cylinder i0' having a'rotor or spindle l [arranged therein, the casinghaving one `or more `diaphragms, l2 whichinterfit with respect to blade carrying discs I3 of the rotor; Each diaphragm IZ is provided with nozzleo'pasa turbine.

sages I4, which cooperate'with blades I5`car`ried" by the succeeding blade-carrying discs l3in the usual way. VMy, invention4 relates to the dia-V phragm packing between the diaphragnrand` the spindle.

My improved diaphragm packing preferably comprises 4a ring member lli4 carried by4 the rotor' and having an outeran-nularradial sealing por# iii.

`a packing or rubbing strip I9 being carried by v each of the lands 2I` andxcooperating withthe,

corresponding land 20. Eachof the lands 20 is of substantial radial width with theresult that considerablerelative radial displacement of the flange and the diaphragm may occur without interfering with effectiveness of the seal.

The sealing portion Ilia is carried by structure of the ring member which deilects under the pressure difference existing between opposite sides of the diaphragm to such an extent that the sealing portion I6a moves axially about the same as the axial movement of Vthe sealing portion I'I of the diaphragm on account of deflectionV of the latter duetofthe pressure difference, with the result that the vsealing clearance is maintained substantially uniform irrespective of variation in the pressure difference so that relatively'close clearances may be had under all operating conditions. Accordingly, I`showthe sealing portion Ia joined by a web 22, to an inneranchor or sleeve portion V23 attached to one or the other of the adjacent discs by means of the groove 23 and caulking strip,v 24. I Y Y Instead of the aforesaid mode of attaching the web, as shown in Fig. 2, the central sleeve portion 23a may telescope over the hub element 24 of a disc I3.

Either construction-provides Vthe requisite ex-'I ibility to'maintain-the axial sealing clearance with deflection of the diaphragms. In this connection',`it will be observed that Vthe stepped formation of the ring member sealing portion Ita to provide the lands 20 gives a structure which is relatively stiff in all directions, with the result that its conformation and the relation thereof with respect to Vthe `diaphragm is maintained, substantially all 'of the deformation due to differences in pressure occurringV in the webf22. Aside from the structural advantage of `stiffness alforded by the land formation, it .will be noted that the lands provide for a stepped arrangement of the clearances with respect to the packing rings I9, thereby providing a mo-re devious path 'of flow and consequent greater resistance toleakage, and facility in dismantling and assembling. .Y Itwill Vbe apparent that the discs I3 maybe formed as integral parts of the rotor or they` may be made as separate discs which `are secured to a Vseparately formed spindle. If an integral rotor structure is used, it will be obvious that the ring member" I6 would have to be split or made in sections so as to permit assembly. On the other hand, Where the discs are formed separately yfrom the spindle, the flange or packing mayV be attached to the rotoras hereinbefore pointed out. f I

, From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a radial type labyrinthpacking for a turbine diaphragm which provides for maintenance of 'sealing clearance even though radial displacement of the spindle and of the diaphragm may occur. Furthermore, as thel rotor-carried packing element is constructed and arranged so that deflection thereof in an axial direction is substantially equal to that of the diaphragm, it will be obvious that close clearances may be maintained under all operating conditions.

The packing rings I9 are comprised by thin metallic strips capable of being readily deformed to t the grooves within which they are secured. In Figs. l and 2, the diaphragm sealing portion I'I is shown as being provided with a plurality of concentric grooves 26 having cylindrical walls 21 against which the sealing strips are pressed by means of the deformable caulking 28 similar to the caulking 25 already described. As the cylindrical surfaces 21 are coaxial with the rotor axis, it will be apparent that the sealing strips extend as cylindricalV elements in the direction of the rotor axistoward the sealing portion I 6a to define close clearances with respect to the latter. The sealingrings and their means of anchorage are no't onlylmechanically simple, occupy a relatively short distance axially of the rotor, and one which' may beeasily manufactured and assembled, butV also the strips are readily removable Whenever required, it being merely necessary to remove'the caulking andthe old strip, insert a new strip and caulkit in place. v

Y While I have shown my invention inv but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of vari-` ous changes and modifications without departing Vfrom the Vspirit thereof, and I desire, therefore,

that only such limitations shallrbe placed thereupon as are imposed by theprior artv or as arel specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is: y I

l.r In a turbine of the type having diaphragms followed by blade-carrying discs, of interstage packing between each diaphragm and the rotor including a ring member secured to the rotor and having inner annular and outer annular radial portions joined by a web portion, the outer annular radial portion radially overlapping the central portion of the diaphragm, one or more annular packing strips carried by the diaphragm central portion and defining sealing clearance with respect tok said outer annular radial portion, said web portion being constructed and arranged so that it deflects under the pressure difference existing between opposite'sides of the diaphragm'to move the radial portion axially substantially vtothe same extent that the central portion of the diaphragm moves on account of deflection of the diaphragm due to the pressure difference. Y

2. In a turbine of the type having diaphragms followed by kblade-carrying discs, of packing betweeneach diaphragm and the rotor including a ring member encompassing the Vrotorand connected thereto, said ring member having an an- Vnular sealing portion stepped circumferentially so as to provide a plurality of annular lands, said diaphragm having a central sealing portion which is stepped circumferentially to provide lands opposite to the ring member sealing portion lands, and an annular packing ring carried by each daphragm sealingportion land and cooperating with the opposite ring member sealing portion land to define sealing clearance, said ring member including a web which is flexibleV in an axialV direction so that deflection thereof due to the difference in pressure existing on opposite sides of the diaphragm results in movement of the ring member sealing portion axially substantially to Vthe same extent as the portionrof the dia,-

tween each diaphragm and thev rotor including a ring member comprising inner sleeve and outer radial portions joined by a curved web portion, the web portion curving outwardly from one end of the sleeve and then backwardly over the sleeve' to join the radial portion, the sleeve encompass ing the rotor and being secured thereto and the radial portion radially overlapping the central portion of the diaphragm, and one or more annular sealing strips carried by the central portion of the diaphragm and extending axially from the latter to define sealing clearance with respect to said radial portion.

4. In a turbine of the type having diaphragms followed by blade-carrying discs, of packing between each diaphragm and the rotor including a sleeve encompassing the rotor, means for con necting the` sleeve to the rotor, a ange which radially overlaps the central annular portion of the diaphragm, a web integral with the sleeve and the flange, said web, curving outwardly from one end of the sleeve and then backwardly to join the flange, said ange being formed to provide a multiplicity of stepped annular lands and the central annular portion of the diaphragm having corresponding annular lands, an annular packing strip carried by each of the diaphragm lands and extending axially therefrom to denne sealing clearance with the corresponding flange land.

5. In a turbine, a stator, arotor including a plurality of blade-carrying discs, nozzle-carrying diaphragms arranged between adjacent discs and carried by the stator, each diaphragm having an opening through which kthe rotor freely extends and provided with an annular radial sealing portion adjacent to the opening, a ring member carried by the rotor between each'pair of adjacent discs and including a web portion and an outer annular sealing portion radially overlapping the inner annular sealing portion of the diaphragm, and one or more sealing rings carried by one ofthe sealing portions and extending toward the other sealing portiongto define sealing clearance.

6. `In a` turbine, a stator, a rotor including a plurality of blade-carrying discs, a nozzle-carrying diaphragm arranged between each pair of adjacent discs, each diaphragm having an opening through which the rotor freely extends and provided with an annular radial sealing portion adjacent to the opening, a ring member carried by the rotor between each pair of adjacent discs andY including a web portion and an outer annular sealing portion radially overlapping the inner annular sealing portion of the diaphragm, each diaphragm sealing portion having'one or more annular grooves facing in the direction of the ring member sealing portion and each groove having an outer cylindrical wall which is substantially coaxial with the rotor, a sealing strip comprised by relatively thin flexible material fitting against each cylindrical wall and extending toward the sealing portion of the ring member to define sealing clearance With respect thereto, and deformed metallic caulking material in each groove and pressing against each Sealing strip to hold the latter in place with respect to its contacting cylindrical Wall.

CARL R. SODERBERG. 

